Puzzle amusement device.



P. G. WATMOUGH, JR. PUZZLE AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

APPLIOATIOH FILED am. 9, 190

906,971. Patented Dec. 15,1908.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PENDLETON G. WATMOUGH, JR., OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PUZZLE AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PENDLETON G. WAT- MOUGH, Jr., a citizen of theUnited States, and resident of the borough of Richmond, in the county ofRichmond and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Puzzle Amusement Devices, of which the following is aspecification.

My present invention relates to an amusement device or puzzle.

The nature, objects and novel features of my invention will be morefully understood by reference to the following specification, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, andwith the claims hereinafter appended.

In the drawings, which show several preferred forms of construction,like parts are designated by similar letters.

Figure 1, shows a generalperspectiveview of a particular form of mydevice as actually constructed. Fig. 2 is a sectionalized elevationtaken through the center plane of the device. Figs. 3 and 4 showmodified forms of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a plan View, relating morearticularly to the construction shown in ig. 4:. Fig. 6 represents aplan view of a preferred lacing of the balls around a certain one of themagnetized parts.

In Fig. 1, A, designates one of three balls shown, sup orted by and freeto roll on the deck B, the latter preferably being composed of smoothcardboard. C, is a retaining case with a glass cover 0 forming partthereof. The arrangement of parts is shown more clearly in Fig. 2. D, D,are magnetized steel ins extending through holes in the card fioard,which thus serves to retain said pins in correct position and is in turnsupported by them due to the friction of the pins against the cardboard.Or the cardboard may be supported on indentations in the casing as shownat C Fig. 4 or by any other simple means. In order that the pins D, D,may retain the desired magnetic strength it is necessary to use a steelwire, such material, as is well known, possessing retentive qualities inregard to magnetism; furthermore, I have found that it is necessary togive the pins considerable length as compared with the verticaldimensions of the device otherwise necessary for the accommodation ofthe deck, the balls and the retaining case, thus producing a bulky andunduly large apparatus due to the unused space E, Fig. 2. In

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 9, 1908.

Patented Dec. 15, 1908.

Serial No. 409,968.

order to minimize this space, I adopt the scheme indicated in Fig. 3,wherein the pins D, D, are of one piece of wire bent into a U or stapleshape, which arrangement allows closing u the space E without reductionin the lengt of the pin, thus producing a small compact device.

Fig. 4 shows still another method of securing the desired magnetizationof the pins, which is effected through the inductive influence receivedfrom the steel bar magnet F. With this arran ement both pins and ballsshould preferabIy be composed of soft iron which While stronglyresponsive to magnetic influence when directly subjected thereto readilyloses said magnetism when the influence is removed, which feature is anadvantage in the operation of my device as hereinafter pointed out. Themagnet F is shown eccentrically and loosely pivoted at the bearing G,formed by the extension of the center pin D the latter being providedwith a head or expansion which serves as the bearing G referred to. Theadvantage of this arrangement is that the magnetism may readily betransferred from one pin to another or may be made relatively strongerin one pin or set of pins as distinguished from the others by shiftingthe permanent magnet F into various positions about its pivot G. Thisshifting of the magnet is accomplished either by jarring the box or bytilting it more or less on edge so as to permit the longer end of themagnet to gravitate downwards to the desired extent, whereupon returningthe box to its original horizontal osition holds the magnet more or lessstationary in the new position. The magnet acts to induce magnetism inthose pins which happen to be over or near its poles.

In operating my invention it is held in an approximately horizontalposition, and tilted or adjusted so as to shift the balls A, and arrangethem in some desired relation, one ex ample of which is illustrated inFig. 6 where the three balls are shown clustered around a certain one ofthe posts D. Said arrangement is difficult to attain,butis renderedpossible because of the slight magnetic attraction existing between theballs and the post. Furthermore, owing to the magnetism, the balls havean amusing Way of clinging and spinning around one post or the otherwhich feature provides considerable entertainment. In that form of my aparatus which utilizes a rotatable magnet, a ditional interest andentertainment may be afforded whenene knows the trick of shifting themagnetism from one set of posts to another, by altering the position ofthe magnet with respect to the It is posts, in a manner described above.obvious that other arrangements of the balls may be sought after,without in any way affecting the basis of my invention. It will also beapparent to those familiar with magnetic phenomena, that the sameclinging tendency between balls and osts as de scribed above, may beobtained y magnetizing steel balls and placing them in combination withsoft iron pins and a retaining case. I do not consider this methodentirely satisfactory, however, as the balls strongly cling to eachother and thus are unable to freely roll which feature greatly detractsfrom the entertainment otherwise furnished by the elusiveness of theballs.

Obviously my invention may be embodied in widely varying forms and indifferent combinations without departing from the fundamental principlesinvolved; therefore without limiting the invention to the devices shownand described and without enumerating e uivalents,

I dlaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent the following2- 1. A puzzle device, comprising a pluralityv of balls of magneticmaterial, a platform upon which said balls roll, retaining walls a outsaid platform, and a magnetized pin projecting uprightly from saidplatform.

2. A puzz e device, comprising a plurality -of--balls of magneticmaterial, a platform rightly from the under-side of the platform throughand above said platform.

3. A puzzle device, comprising a plurality of balls of magneticmaterial, a platform upon which said balls roll, retaining walls aboutsaid platform, a magnet ivoted to swing next the underside of saiplatform, and a pin of magnetic material projecting from the upper sideof the platform and located to be over a pole of the aforesaid magnetwhen same is swung for this purpose about its pivot.

4. A puzzle device, comprising a plurality of balls of magneticmaterial, a platform upon which said balls roll, retaining walls a outsaid platform, a bar magnet mounted to swing neXt the underside of theplatform about a pivot located nearer one end of the magnet and ada tedto cause the magnet to assume a norma position, and a pin of magneticmaterial pro ecting from the upper side of the platform and located tobe over a pole of the aforesaid magnet when same is swung for thispurpose about its pivot.

Signed at New York city in the county of New York and State of New Yorkthis sixth day of January A. D. 1908.

PENDLETON G. WATMOUGH, JR.

Witnesses:

F. W. WENGEMOTH, EMMA D. MILLS.

